I envisaged a good winter training schedule leading to race season then taking on a personal challenge. All this planning and race entries did not take into account life, work or injury. The growing popularity of ultra running means races fill fast, forcing participants to enter months ahead of race day. I had a race schedule worked out to bring my fitness up using the tried and tested SUMS ultra calendar. Events are used to build strength and stamina, I was so confident in having a good season I threw in the Hardmoors 55 as well, a relatively high mile race for me during March.
As previously posted, it went belly up on a run home in the dark, a pothole brought me to my knees. A physio appointment put paid to the Hardmoors but gave hope in running the D33.
I was advised to cross train and get on the bike. I did, 30 miles on my old mountain bike which felt like 3 hours of torture, I'm not into cycling. I have a rowing machine, another torture device which I don't like. I do sessions on the rower in fits and starts, only doing a session when I can be bothered. I should have been on the rower, but decided to sit and update my blog instead. As for swimming? Difficulty fitting time in for swimming and a dislike of water means no visit to the public baths for me.
It's safe to say I struggle with cross training and always have. The result? After six weeks of very little exercise, I feel as if my fitness has ebbed away. In such a short time, my midriff has expanded thanks to a lack of running, bad diet and alcohol consumption.
The ankle kept swelling, but I was still on track to do the D33 after a second visit to the physio. One more visit was required where I would be shown how to strap and support the ankle. Unfortunately I was unable to make this appointment which has been postponed and with ongoing ankle problems pulled out of the second race of my year.
The Fling is fast approaching which is now in jeopardy. My rescheduled physio appointment is over a week away and although the ankle feels like it's getting stronger, pain stops any sort of running whatsoever. Obviously this is going to have a knock on effect, not only is the Fling and possibly Cateran under threat but my personal challenge as well. With no running and racing, there's no way I'll be fit enough for my east to west.
The next couple of weeks is going to determine how my summer running will go, I'm going to need a rapid improvement in ankle recovery.
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